Storage and display cabinet



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FRITZ EI'AL Aug. 29, 1933.

ll'll Aug. 29, 1933. E. M. mm ETAL 99 451 STORAGE AND DISPLAY CABINET Original Filed April- .13, 1931 3-Sheets-Sheet 2 I g a Patented Aug. 29, 1933 PATENT orncr-i 1,924,118 STORAGE AND DISPLAY CABINET Edward M. Fritz, Edwin K. Thomas, and Frank W. Thomas, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to Grand Rapids Cabinet Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a Corporation of Michigan Original application April 13, 1931, Serial No.

529,662, and in Canada May 28, 1931. Divided' and this application May 9, 1932.

Serial No.

13 Claims. (01. 312-126) The present invention is a division of our pending application for patent Serial No. 529,662, filed April 13, 1931 for a Storage and display cabinet. This invention relates to a storage and display cabinet and particularly to such a cabinet which is designed for the effective display and maintenance of frozen foods and similar merchandise at temperatures of zero Fahrenheit and below. Such merchandise is ordinarily prepared by being quickly frozen at sub-zero temperature and should be maintained at extremely low temperature until it is delivered to the customer. In view of this fact, a serious problem of heat interchange arises each time such display cabinets are opened to dispense merchandise therefrom because of the extremely large differential between ordinary room temperature and the temperature which mustbe maintained in the storage cabinet. This problem of heat interchange with its resultant frosting due to the inflow of relatively humid warm air has caused many difliculties with existing low temperature display and storage cabinets, which as designed permit interior air circulation and have side wall doors for the removal and introduction of merchandise. Such structures allow a ready inflow of relatively humid air which results in inefficient operation and in objectionable frosting of transparent members such as panes of glass when the cabinets are used for display purposes. It also frosts the cooling surface reducing its efliciency and necessitating refrigerant defrosting.

We have overcome such diificulties in structures embodying the present invention, first, by providing refrigerating medium designed to effect uniform heat extraction in a cabinet which is designed to minimize air circulation, and, secondly, by positioning the doors for the removal and introduction of merchandise at the top of the cabinet whereby any substantial heat interchange upon the opening of such doors is prevented because of the natural upward flow of warm air.

Our invention further lends itself to the practical application of such low temperature cabinets for display purposes, since the transparent members used for such purposes do not become clouded or frosted. In this connection an important object of our invention resides in the provision of a low temperature cabinet of the type identified having a display compartment or compartments which are effectively refrigerated tdextremely low temperatures and which are so arranged as to permit of convenient visual inspection of the displayed merchandise at all times.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a display tray which is readily adaptable topositioning at various angles and which is readily removable to permit of the introduction or removal of merchandise therefrom. Such a display tray also serves to isolate the display compartment from the remainder of the cabinet, provision being made to adjustably seal the openings at the ends of the rear wall thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a low temperature storage and display cabinet having readily shiftable partition means for classifying and separating the contents of the storage compartment.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a low temperature storage and display cabinet for frozen foods or similar merchandise which can be used in the display and dispensing of such merchandise with a minimum of heat interchange and without the necessity of frequent defrosting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerating storage and display cabinet embodying the features of this invention in a preferred form wherein the display is not accessible to the customer.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental horizontal section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line III- 111 of Figure 1. Figure 4. is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the glass mounting in a transparent slanted portion of the cabinet.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of one end of the removable display tray.

Figure 6 is a fragmental vertical cross-section of a modified form of the invention as adapted for use with customer self service.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section showing the glass mounting in one of the compartment doors of Figure 6.

As shown on the drawings:

The two forms of cabinet are preferably of similar construction with the exception of a top, so that common reference numerals will be used as far as possible. The cabinet or case is preferably formed with an exterior enameled or rust proof metal covering 10, that on the sides being backed by ply wood panels 11 on a skeleton frame 12. The refrigerating chamber proper 13 is formed within a double walled tank 14 forming a brine or holdover compartment 15 containing refrigerating coils 16 preferably in the upper portions thereof to assure even cold distribution. The space between the inside of the panels 11 or frame 12 and the outside walls of the brine tank 14 is occupied by a plurality of layers of cork board or molded insulation 17 accurately fitted into position. The layers are preferably separated by tar paper or other impervious nonconductive material 18, in order to further increase the efficiency of the insulation. The bottom 19 of the cabinet is similarly constructed. In both forms of the invention the top 20 is provided with one or more door openings for each compartment thereof. The door and fixed display window opening have a frame or border 21 covered by enameled or other rust proof metal covering 22 which is flanged over the edges of the top to give an attractive finish to the cabinet. A filler opening closed by a cap 23 is provided in the top in communication with the brine tank 14 to permit filling of the same to its top with brine or other holdover substance.

In order to assure uniformity of temperature throughout a compartment, the case is divided by one or more permanent double walled partitions 24 which receive brine from the main tank and also have coils of the expansion system passing therethrough. The result is obtained by form ing the inner lining of each compartment as an individual unit, the joining sides of two compartments forming the partition 24. Thus each inner compartment is subjected to equal radiation from the cold brine surrounding all four walls and bottom, preventing the establishment of hot pockets or air circulation within the compartment. In the embodiment of this invention, particularly designed for counter service, the front portion of the top is given a slant downwardly and is equipped with a transparent display window 26, the slant being such that the average person looks through the window at approximately right angles thereto to avoid reflection and refraction through the glass. Back of the display window in the fiat portion of the top, insulated doors 28 are provided for each compartment to permit the clerk to reach the storage compartment behind and below the articles displayed beneath the transparent window.

A detail of the preferred construction of the display window is shown in Figure 4. The window is of multiple glass construction wherein the various panes 29 are separated by air spaces, it being essential to prevent air circulation both to prevent heat loss and to prevent moisture condensation' or frosting of the glasses which would interfere with proper transparency. The illustrated structure comprises four panes of glass, the two center panes being bedded in when the framework 30 is assembled, while the lower pane is held by an applied frame 31 and the upper pane by a beveled edge 32 on the top metal cover which cover seats on a rubber gasket 33 about the window opening to further seal the topmost glass against infiltration of moisture laden warm air from the room. A modified method of glass assembly is shown in Figure 7 which relates to a door construction wherein the glass panes are separated by spacing strips 34 with a rubber gasket 35 between the bottom 1 and the lower-- most glass, in addition to the top gasket 33 previously mentioned.

In order to better display the merchandise,

lighting units and reflectors 52 may be mounted at each compartment as shown in Figure 1.

A sliding drawer or tray 36 rests upon angle guides 37 secured to the end walls of the brine tank, the tray being a loose fit in the compartment and having a back member 38 hooked at the top edge 39 to engage a similar hook member 40 depending from the top of the cabinet to form an air seal and to support the back end of the tray thus permitting suspension of the tray at an angle if desired. Each end of the back member 38 is provided with a slidable end 41 as shown in Figures 2 and 5 which is adapted to be projected into contact with the wall of the compartment and clamped in position by a knob 42. These slidablo ends are retracted and the tray lifted slightly to disengage the hooked edges of the members 39 and 40 when it is desired to withdraw the tray to a position beneath the door to permit re-arrangement of the articles on display. At other times the tray compartment is substantially scaled from the storage compartment which prevents air circulation therethrough upon opening the door to serve a customer.

In both embodiments of this invention the service openings are formed in the flat portion of the top of the cabinet to eliminate the circulation of air upon opening of the doors to supply the needs of the customer. Since cold air flows downwardly it tends to remain within the cabinet thus excluding the entry of warm air from the room even when the door is held open. This arrangement is especially valuable in a sub-zero cabinet required for the satisfactory prolonged storage of ice cream or quick frozen meats and other perishable products, since the top openings not only prevent loss of the cold air but also tend to hold the air stagnant without the presence of hot pockets which would tend to set up air circulation and cause dehydration of the articles in storage and the resulting frosting of the compartment lining and display windows.

In both forms of the invention, intermediate shiftable partitions 43 are provided which are located to suit the desired arrangement of packaged goods in the storage compartment. If two of these partitions are used in each compartment, the display trays 36 can be rested directly thereon thus eliminating the bars 37 previously described. The partitions are mounted in notches 44 in horizontally mounted angle irons 45. The angle irons 45 are so disposed that by the provision of pockets or notches 46 in the partitions, the latter can be lifted clear of the lower angles on each side at the time the notches 46 are in alignment with the upper angles of the sides, thus permitting the sideways shifting of the partitions to other notches.

The modified form of flat top cabinet shown in Figures 6 and 7 is designed for customer self service, being provided with pairs of doors 47, for each. compartment, containing transparent panels re sembling the previously described display window 26. The pairs of doors are preferably mounted on a common hinge 48 and are provided with sealing gaskets 49 and 50 at the top and bottom edges thereof to form a double seal. In this form of the invention the display tray 51 need not be slid able since access may be had directly thereto, so that the movable partition 43 can be extended. upwardly back of the tray to hold the tray in position. The tray can also be omitted if desired, permitting full visibility and access to both sides .of

the case.

By virtue of our invention, the customer is enabled to make a selection of a desired package or mold form from visual inspection and the display of such goods in frozen condition, whereby they are maintained in their original attractive form, which in fact materially increases sales without increase in eifort on the part of salespeople.

Furthermore, the maintenance of goods, such as ice cream in storage at such extremely low temperatures, assures that the desired physical form thereof will be maintained for a considerable length of time after withdrawal from the cabinet whereby the original attractive appearance is re-- tained at the time of serving.

While, as we have indicated, cabinets embodying our invention are particularly adapted for storage of ice cream and other quick frozen foods which must be maintained at extremely low tem-- peratures, usually below zero Fahrenheit, it will be obvious that our cabinet may be used at higher temperatures if it is desired to so regulate the refrigerating apparatus for such operation.

Primarily, however, our inventive concept has to do with the provision of an eflicient storage and display cabinet, the interior of which can normally be economically maintained at such zero temperatures.

We are aware that the preferred form of our invention herein illustrated and described is susceptible of variations and modifications through a wide range without departing from the principle of this invention, and we therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A low temperature display and storage cabinet comprising vertical walls snugly joined together at their ends, a bottom member fixed to the bottom edges of the walls, a transparent portion adapted to partly cover the top opening of the cabinet, supporting bars fastened on opposite walls near the top of the cabinet, a tray slidably mounted on said supporting bars, means for sealing said tray to the top and walls to form a separate display compartment beneath said transparent portion, and a hinged door adapted to completely close the remainder of the top opening of the cabinet.

2. A cabinet comprising an open box-like construction, supporting means fixed on opposite walls of the cabinet near the top, a sliding tray mounted on said supporting means, a top section adapted to close the box-like construction, said top section consisting of a hinged door and a transparent portion, said transparent portion comprising a plurality of spaced apart panes of glass, said tray including means engageable with portions of the cabinet to form therewith a separate display compartment beneath said display portion.

3. A cabinet comprising an open box-like construction, supporting members fixed on opposite walls of the cabinet, a sliding tray mounted on said supporting means, a top section adapted to close the box-like construction, said top section consisting of a hinged door positioned horizontally when closed, and a transparent portion disposed at an angle to the horizontal portion of the top section, said tray including means engageable with portions of the cabinet to form therewith a separate display compartment disposed beneath said display portion.

4. A low temperature display and storage cabinet comprising a box-like unit formed of walls and a bottom rigidly held together, partitions disposed cross-wise and interiorly of the cabinet, means to removably retain the partitions in place, a tray slidably mounted within said cabinet above said partitions and including a portion engageable with the cabinet to form therewith a separate display compartment, a transparent member longitudinally located to one side of the top of said cabinet above said tray and doors adapted to tightly close the balance of the top of the cabinet.

5. A cabinet comprising an open box-like con-- struction, a top section adapted to close the boxlike construction, said top section comprising a horizontally disposed door and a transparent .por-

tion disposed at an angle to the horizontal portion of the top section, a display tray beneath said transparent portion and forming with portions of the cabinet, a separate display compartment and supporting means for said tray permitting sliding movement to a position beneath said door.

6. A cabinet comprising an open box-like construction, a top section adapted to close the boxlike construction, said top section comprising a horizontally disposed door and a transparent portion disposed at an angle to the horizontal portion of the top section, a display tray beneath said transparent portion and forming with portions of the cabinet, a separate display compartment and supporting means for said tray permitting sliding movement to a position beneath said door, and means for releasably locking said tray in its normal position beneath said transparent portion.

7. A cabinet comprising an open box-like construction, a top section adapted to close the boxlike construction, said top section comprising a horizontally disposed door and a transparent portion disposed at an angle to the horizontal portion of the top section, a display tray beneath said transparent portion and supporting means for said tray permitting sliding movement to a position beneath said door, said tray'including an upstanding back formed into a hook at the upper edge, a hook member depending from the top of the cabinet for engagement by the hook on the said tray to form an air seal.

8. A cabinet comprising an open box-like construction, a top section adapted to close the boxlike construction, said top section comprising a horizontally disposed door and a transparent portion disposed at an angle to the horizontal portion of the top section, a display tray beneath said transparent portion and supporting means for said tray permitting sliding movement to a position beneath said door, said tray including an upstanding back member, plates on saidback adapted for sliding adjustment to engage the ends of the cabinet, and means for releasably locking said plates in adjusted position.

9. A cabinet comprising an open box-like construction, a top section adapted to close the boxlike construction, said top section comprising a horizontally disposed door and a transparent portion disposed at an angle to the horizontal portion of the top section, a display tray beneath said transparent portion and supporting means for said tray permitting sliding movement to a position beneath said door, and means for releasably locking said tray in its normal position beneath said transparent portion, said tray including an upstanding back member, plates on said back adapted for sliding adjustment to engage the ends of the cabinet, and means for releasably locking said plates in adjusted position.

10. A cabinet comprising an open box-like construction, a top section adapted to close the boxlike construction, said top section comprising a horizontally disposed door and a transparent portion disposed at an angle to the horizontal portion of the top section, a display tray beneath said transparent portion and supporting means for said tray permitting sliding movement to a position beneath said door, said tray including an upstanding-back formed into a hook at the upper edge, a hook member depending from the top of the cabinet for engagement by the hook on the said tray to form an air seal, plates on said back adapted for sliding adjustment to engage the ends of the cabinet, and means for releasably locking said plates in adjusted position.

11. A low temperature display and storage cabinet having an open upper side, a top for the upper side of the cabinet including a door for access thereto and a transparent portion, a tray slidably mounted in the upper portion of the cabinet adapted to be moved beneath said transparent portion of the top and adapted to carry articles of merchandise for display, said tray including means engageable with parts of the cabinet when moved to a position beneath said transparent portion of the top to provide a substantially sealed compartment within which the articles of display may be positioned.

12. A low temperature display and storage cabinet having an open upper side, a top for the upper side of the cabinet including a door for access thereto and a transparent portion, a tray slidably mounted in the upper portion of the cabinet adapted to be moved beneath said transparent portion of the top and adapted to carry articles of merchandise for display, said tray including laterally slidable members engageable with parts of the cabinet when moved to a position beneath said transparent portion of the top to provide a substantially sealed compartment within which the articles of display may be positioned, and means for releasably locking said tray in its normal position beneath sad transparent portion.

13. A low temperature display and storage cabinet having an open upper side, a top for the upper side of the cabinet including a door for access thereto and a transparent portion, a tray slidably mounted in the upper portion of the cabinet adapted to be moved beneath said transparent portion of the top and adapted to carry articles of merchandise for display, said tray including an upstanding back member, plates on said back adapted for sliding adjustment to engage the ends of the cabinet and means for releasably locking said plates in adjusted position, whereby said tray Whenmoved to a position beneath said transparent portion of the top provides a substantially sealed compartment within which the articles of display may be positioned, and means for releasably locking said tray in its normal position beneath said transparent portion.

EDWARD M. FRITZ. EDWIN K. THOMAS. F. W. THOMAS. 

